|
|
UNP condemns new Sri Lankan media policy
Sunday, 9 March 2008 - 7:58 AM SL Time
|
|
|
The main opposition UNP yesterday charged the government s proposed national media policy would be an attempt to apply pressure on media personnel to toe the ruling party s line.
Commenting on the new media policy announced by Minister Anura Priyadaeshana Yapa, UNP frontliner Lakshman Kiriella said the government should expel fear psychosis prevailing among journalists today and dispel confidence in them.
Mr. Kiriella said the government should act responsibly since it was accountable to the people and the international community.
I have come to know about the move to introduce a new media policy. The government has signed various international conventions so it cannot act like a terrorist movement, he said adding that anyone voicing media rights were branded as terrorists today.
Citing the recent incident at the Sri Lankan Rupavahini Corporation concerning Minister Mervyn Silva, he said the aggrieved party had become the victim today.
|
|
|
p007
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 879
Member Profile
|
 10 Mar 2008 08:34:21 GMT Report for Abuse
|
Any regulation aimed at strangling the Media needs to be condemned without reservation.
In the U.S. where Media freedom is perceived to be absolute, things don't look all that good for journalists under the Bush dispensation.
According to the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, since 2001, some 65 journalists have been subpoenaed to give evidence before a grand jury and reveal their sources.
Judith Miller, a New York Times writer preferred to be jailed. The background to her 85-day imprisonment was her refusal to reveal who had leaked the name of Valerie Plame, a CIA agent, to the media.
About three months ago, a federal grand jury issued a subpoena against James Risen, the New York Times reporter for national security and intelligence affairs, ordering him to give evidence in court. In his book 'State of War: The Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration,' which was published in 2006, Risen has revealed details about a number of plans thought up jointly by CIA and Mossad operatives to sabotage Iran's nuclear capabilities.
The US media has been generally co-operative with the Bush Administration by blacking out facts regarding 9/11 and repeating the Bush lies about Iraq's WMD, ties to Alqaeda etc. enabling Bush to invade Iraq.
The US media has also been complicit with the US special treatment of Israel with military, diplomatic and financial support enabling Israel to blatantly violate international laws, Geneva Conventions and UNSC resolutions and commit genocide and gross human right violations against Palestinians for over 60 years.
In short, Media Freedom is a myth the world over. There are degrees of Media control, some absolute and some less so. In Sri Lanka, it seems to be fast approaching the Absolute.
|
|
Search All News and Discussions